HomeFish encyclopediaRay-finned fishesScorpionfishes and FlatheadsWasp fishesDraco waspfish Draco waspfish (Pseudovespicula dracaena) Scientific name: Pseudovespicula dracaena Cuvier, 1829 The Draco waspfish (Pseudovespicula dracaena) is a marine fish of the family Tetrarogidae. Native range: Western Indian Ocean. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 5 - 6. Body light brown, irregularly blotched with darker brown; a broad dark band across interorbital, continuing as a bar below eye and another band from origin of dorsal fin to eye. Dorsal fin pale with a large dark brown blotch in middle of the fin, usually between 6th and 9th spines; other irregular blotches especially posteriorly. Caudal fin whitish with faint small dark spots. No scales. Body depth 2.45-3.1 in SL. Lacrimal with 2 spines, a short ventral one and a large posterior one that extends to below center of eye. Preopercle with a large spine in line with suborbital ridge; the second spine, lower, very small and blunt. Origin of dorsal fin above rear edge of eye; a broad space between 3rd and 4th dorsal spines, the associated membrane deeply incised, nearly dividing the dorsal into 2 fins. Caudal fin truncate, slightly rounded when spread.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific namePseudovespicula dracaenaFamilyTetrarogidae (Wasp fishes)OrderScorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length7.5EnvironmentMarine; demersalClimateSubtropicalDistributionWestern Indian Ocean.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansVenomousResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026